This review may contain spoilers
True Beauty a story of friendship growth and courage
True Beauty is a drama very similar to My ID Is Gangnam Beauty in how it explores society’s beauty standards and the effect they can have on a person’s mental health. Lim Joo Kyung puts extra effort into her appearance, and this comes directly from the intense bullying she experienced at her old school. She was treated as an outcast because of her looks and her awkwardness, especially her love for horror books, which made her an easy target. After learning how to do her makeup and completely transforming her appearance, she immediately notices how differently people treat her compared to her old school. This makes her believe that being beautiful is necessary to avoid bullying and gain acceptance.
Lee Su Ho meets Lim Joo Kyung when she isn’t wearing makeup and befriends her because of her caring nature and the fact that she doesn’t drool over his good looks. This connection is also rooted in their past, when Su Ho was extremely rude to her at school, which made her goal very clear: stay away from him. Of course, fate intervenes, and Su Ho eventually discovers that the girl he’s been talking to at the bookshop is Lim Joo Kyung. That reveal adds tension to their relationship and highlights Joo Kyung’s fear of being truly seen.
I really liked how at her new school Lim Joo Kyung has classmates who accept her, even after finding out she isn’t naturally pretty. Her friendship with Choi Soo Ah stands out. Soo Ah is upset that Joo Kyung kept her bullying a secret and didn’t show her natural face, disappointed that her friend thought she had to hide herself. That dynamic was very relatable and added depth to the story about self acceptance and trust.
Han Seo Joon is basically a walking green flag. He quietly protects Joo Kyung and consistently shows up for her without needing recognition or praise, which makes him both reliable and endearing.
Mun Ka Young as Lim Joo Kyung was perfectly cast. She’s a strong actress and handled the emotional scenes beautifully, especially the moments where Joo Kyung’s insecurities and fears came to the surface. She balanced vulnerability and humor in a way that made her easy to sympathize with.
Cha Eun Woo as Lee Su Ho was a bit more mixed for me. While he fit the visual and reserved nature of the character, I wished we could see more of his emotions. He often came across as stiff, which made it harder to fully connect with his internal struggles.
Hwang In Youp as Han Seo Joon, on the other hand, was perfectly cast. He effortlessly exuded confidence and embodied the bad boy image while still showing emotional depth when it mattered. His presence added energy to the drama and made his character especially memorable.
Lee Su Ho meets Lim Joo Kyung when she isn’t wearing makeup and befriends her because of her caring nature and the fact that she doesn’t drool over his good looks. This connection is also rooted in their past, when Su Ho was extremely rude to her at school, which made her goal very clear: stay away from him. Of course, fate intervenes, and Su Ho eventually discovers that the girl he’s been talking to at the bookshop is Lim Joo Kyung. That reveal adds tension to their relationship and highlights Joo Kyung’s fear of being truly seen.
I really liked how at her new school Lim Joo Kyung has classmates who accept her, even after finding out she isn’t naturally pretty. Her friendship with Choi Soo Ah stands out. Soo Ah is upset that Joo Kyung kept her bullying a secret and didn’t show her natural face, disappointed that her friend thought she had to hide herself. That dynamic was very relatable and added depth to the story about self acceptance and trust.
Han Seo Joon is basically a walking green flag. He quietly protects Joo Kyung and consistently shows up for her without needing recognition or praise, which makes him both reliable and endearing.
Mun Ka Young as Lim Joo Kyung was perfectly cast. She’s a strong actress and handled the emotional scenes beautifully, especially the moments where Joo Kyung’s insecurities and fears came to the surface. She balanced vulnerability and humor in a way that made her easy to sympathize with.
Cha Eun Woo as Lee Su Ho was a bit more mixed for me. While he fit the visual and reserved nature of the character, I wished we could see more of his emotions. He often came across as stiff, which made it harder to fully connect with his internal struggles.
Hwang In Youp as Han Seo Joon, on the other hand, was perfectly cast. He effortlessly exuded confidence and embodied the bad boy image while still showing emotional depth when it mattered. His presence added energy to the drama and made his character especially memorable.
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